Retractable aerial



May 1l, 1954 F. v. GOSLINE RETRACTABLE AERIAL Filed July 20, 1950 i P/f 2 f, Y @j f l1 l l 1 :y:

IN VEN TORS. ffJf//Z 625/2/76.

Patented May 11, 1954 RETRACTABLE AERIAL Frederick V. Gosline, Detroit, Mich., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to Pioneer Specialty Company, a corporation of Michigan Application July 20, 1950, Serial No. 174,896

5 claims. 1

This invention relates to extensible and retractable radio antennas and particularly to an improved assembly consisting of an extensible and retractable antenna, and actuating mechu anism therefor, especially adapted for vehicular installations, as in motorcars, and in other places where actuation of the antenna from a remote point is necessary or desirable.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extensible radio antenna and actuating means therefor which is an improvement over the disclosures of Patent No. 2,346,728 and copending application, Serial No. 72,843, filed January 25. 1949, now Patent No. 2,580,889.

It is another object of this invention toprovide an extensible antenna as described which is mov able to its extended and retracted positions by ilexble means, but which is positive in action both during extension and retraction of the antenna.

It is a further object to provide in an antenna of the character describednovel actuating means including a iexible screwshaft (which may be formed of metal), a traveling nut, and a flexible dielectric rod actuatable by the screw and nut and secured to the aerial. My improved construction avoids the necessity of forming screw threads upon the dielectric material, which is undesirable because of a tendency of such threading to cause cracking of the dielectric material. I achieve a further advantage in that the traveler nut is entirely independent of the actuating motor, and the need for providing an axial passage through the motor shaft, such as is required with many of the prior art constructions, is eliminated.

It is also an object to provide an antenna of the class described and actuating means there for which may be constructed with relatively few parts and which is flexible and adjustable in contouring and occupies a minimum of space so that it can conveniently be installed in a concealed manner in conned spaces of varying pro-n portions, as for example, under or behind a body or fender panel of a motorcar.

` Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following speciiication. the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly in cross section, showing the operative parts of the improved antenna and its associated mechanism in its retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the actuating means taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View similar to Fig. 2, but taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The antenna structure itself of the present invention may be oi' one of the multi-sectioned telescopic types now well known in the art. The preferred form shown is adapted to be mounted on a panel Ii which may comprise, for example, va fender or cowl panel of an automotive vehicle. The antenna proper consists of a plurality of tubular telescopic members I2, I3, and i4, and an inner cylindrical member i5, the outer member l2 being fixed to the fender by means later described. Members I3, E4, and I5 are slidable upwardly to an extended position limited by sleeves it which form stop shoulders between the antenna sections in their extended position, and which have flanges Ita limiting the retractive movement of the sections to the position shown in Fig. l.

The panel I I is provided with an apertured portion through which extends a cylindrical shell Il having an upper threaded portion I8 above the panel surface, a shoulder I9 spaced below the panel, and an enlarged cylindrical section 2| below shoulder I9. The shell il' is rigidly mounted to the fender by means of a dome nut 22 which is threaded on portion It and which holds shoulder Iii upwardly against a tubular spacer 2t below the fender. Annular member 23a inside spacer 223 maintains the spacerin concentric relation with shell' Il'. Nut 22 is preferably engageable with a neckpiece 2li of insulating material, the base of which rests upon a gasket pad 25 which serves to prevent moisture from entering the body aperture. An insulating bushing 2t is mounted within the nut 22 and the threaded portion I8 of shell I l. This bushing serves as the uppermost support for the antenna section I2.

An insulating block 2'! of circular shape is mounted within the enlarged portion 2l ol shell il', being held in position by a plate 23 at the lower end of the shell. The upper and lower portions of block 2B are provided, respectively, with clearance recesses 2?; and 3i, and the portion ci the block intermediate these recesses has therein a tubular metallic insert 32, the lower end oi antenna section I 2 being positioned within this metallic insert. A locking bolt 33 extends through a transverse aperture in block 2l and is threadably engageable with insert t2, the inner end of the locking bolt serving to nrrnly anchor the lower portion of section I2. Sec- 3 tion 2l may be provided with a threaded nipple 3d concentric with bolt 33 in order to receive the lead-in cable coupling nut (not shown). Bolt :i3 serves as the lead-in terminal.

The mechanism for extending and retracting the antenna comprises a rod 'd5 formed of a flexible insulating plastic material such as nylon. The rod is rigidly secured to the lower end of innermost antenna section it by means of an insert and extends slidably downwardly through an aperture el in plate 23. The rod, although flexible, is stiff enough to act in compression without buckling to push the aerial sections up toextended condition.

An elongated housing 38 extends between apern ture 31 and a remotely positioned reversible driving motor 3%), the housing being attached at either end by flanges 4l and fll, respectively. This housing may be formed oi metal which is bendable to various curved shapes to facilitate installation, but stiff enough so it is not further distorted by the operating components after installation. t is partly flattened and creased throughout its length to a cross-sectional contour, clearly shown in lilies. 2 and such that two partly cylindrical internal passages M and 45 are formed and joined throughout their length by a reduced opening 5l' defined by the reentrantly creased portions llt. The reduced opening `5l is narrower than the diameter of rod 35.

A bearing end plate fll is moin 'ed at the terminal of housing 33 adjacent aperture s?, and an elongated threaded shaft 4E extends within tubular section d5 of the housing, the shaft being fabricated of flexible material which clay be metallic. One end of threaded shaft 4B is provided with a journal pin le supported in a bearing aperture (not designated) in end plate 41. The opposite end of shaft G8 is connected to driving motor 39 by means of a coupling 5l. It will lbe obvious therefore that upon actuation of motor 39, ilexible shaft i3 will rotate within its tubular housing, irrespective of the irregular shape of the housing. The lower portion 52 of a nut 53 is threadably mounted on shaft 48, the nut being substantially 3shaped as shown in Fig. 3. The upper portion 5A of the nut within tubular portion 44 is apertured and the end 55 of rod 35 is rigidly secured to portion 54 .within said aperture. It will be noted by reference to 3 that the nut assembly is loosely, slidably fitted inthe housing tube structure but cannot vrotate therein due to the nonconcentric cross section of the parts.

In operation, the antenna may be moved to its extended position by actuating driving motor 39.

The arrangement of the parts is such that when the antenna sections are in their retracted position, as shown in Fig. l, nut will be adjacent the inner end of the housing 38 near motor 39. Actuation of the motor will cause rotation oi iiexible threaded shaft rod 48, causing nut 53 to ride therealong to the left as seen in Fig. l. This movement will cause a compressive stress in ilexible rod 35, and since transverse movement of this rod is substantially prevented by the shape of tubular section lid and constriction 46, the inner end of the rod attached to antenna section l5 at 3G will move upwardly extending this section. lnterengageable sleeves lli will coact to extend the other movable sections or" the antenna. To retract the antenna, the direction of motor 39 is reversed, drawing nut 53 downwardly and to` the right as seen in Fig. l. The

simultaneous inward movement of rod 35 will :first retract section I5, and sleeves It will coact with flanges Ia to retract the remaining sections.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulnll the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

lpMeans for longitudinally actuating an extensible radio antenna or the like comprising, a flexible elongated rod-like actuating element adapted to be mechanically connected to the antenna, a flexible threaded shaft extending in parallel spaced relation to said element, a driving nut attached to said element and threadably engageable with said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft will cause longitudinal movement of said element, and means common to said element and said shaft for maintaining said element, said shaft and said nut in operating relationship.

2. Means for longitudinally actuating an extensible radio antenna or the like comprising, a flexible elongated rod-lilre actuating element adapted to be mechanically connected to the antenna, a flexible threaded shaft extending in parallel spaced relation to said element, a driving nut attached to said element and threadably engageable with said shaft, and means for preventing rotation of said driving nut comprising a guide tube in which said nut is slidably fitted. said tube also being bendable and enclosing-said actuating element and shaft.

3. Means for longitudinally actuating ari-ex tensible radio antenna or the like ccmprising,"aJ flexible but nonwotatable guide tube having two tubular portions therein spaced parallel relation, a iiexible elongated rod-like actuating element slidable one of said tubular portions and adapted to be mechanically connected to the antenna, a flexible threaded shaft rotatable but non-slidable in the other of said tubular portions,

.and a driving nut slidable but non-rotatable in said tube and attached to said element and threadably engageable with said shaft, whereby rotation of said shaft will cause longitudinal movement of said element.

4.. Means for longitudinally actuating an extensible radio antenna or the like comprising, a flexible guide tube substantially nguie-e-shaped in cross section having two tubular portions therein in spaced parallel relation and a constricted connectingl slot-like opening providing internal communication between said tubular portions, a ilexible elongated rod-lil e actuating element in one of said tubular portions and adapted to be mechanically connected to the antenna, a flexible threaded shaft in the other of said tubular portions, and a slidable but nonrotatable driving nut having one portion threadably engageable with shaft, a second portion attached to said element, and an intermediate portion slidably fitted in said constricted portion of the guide tube.

5. Means for longitudinally actuating an ex tensible radio antenna or the like comprising, a flexible guide tube substantially ngure-8shapet in. cross section having two 'tubular portions therein in spaced parallel relation and a constricted connecting slot-lil e opening providing internal communication between said tubular portions, a flexible elongated rod-like actuating 5 element in one of said tubular 'portions and adapted to be mechanically connected to the antenna, said constrieted portion being narrower than the diameter of said rod-like element, a flexible threaded shaft in the other of said tubular portions, and a slidable but non-rotatable driving nut having one portion threadably engageabie With said shaft, a second portion attached to said element, and an intermediate por- Number tion slidably tted in said constricted portion 10 of the guide tube.

Name Date Weston May 13, 1913 Number Number Name Date Gebhard Apr. 18, 1933 Arens Apr. 2, 1940 Benson May 6, 1941 Hann May 25, 1943 Carlson Apr. 18, 1944 Carlson Jan. 1, 1952 Carlson Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 2, 1942 

